This first book in Ms. McKenna's Florida Coast series is very good. In fact, when I was reading it, and came to the end, I was extremely disappointed, because I felt like the story was just getting started. I quickly logged on to download the next book, because I wanted to continue getting to know the people in the small town of Apalachicola, Florida. The more I get to know them, the more I realize, I've lived with a version of these people all my life. They are quintessentially Southern: Politeness above all. Very quirky sense of humor (it's the heat; fries our brains). Secrets old and new. Duty. Bravery. Compassion. Even the "bad" guy is shamefully likable. The real villain is scary, more because he could be the guy next door than anything.
I really do like the format of these first four books. There is a story for each book, but there is a story underlying all of it. Of course, over the four books you get enough clues that you can guess the secret, but the details still escaped me. It was gratifying to see the threads woven back into the tapestry by the end of book four. Though, now that I think about it, books 5 and 6 (and the forthcoming 7?) are still dealing with the repercussions of The Secret, so maybe I shouldn't say it was "wrapped up," only that it was partially made clear.
I enjoyed the book as itself, too, not just as a part of the series. The conflict of this book is something that is so heartbreakingly common around here in Georgia, and it was true in Alabama, so much so that for Ms. McKenna's people to experience it in Florida is completely believable. The characters of this series/this book are awesome and so very real. Stoopid cracks me up. Kyle & Sky are awesome kids. Gray & Georgia sound like amazing parents. Wyatt, Dwayne, and the rest of the gang at the Sheriff's office are given enough of a personality that there is something to come back to when you see them again. The town characters are amazing, because like I said before, I've known them all my life; different names, maybe, but the same people.
Overall, I highly recommend this book, and in fact the series of books. There is a small amount of bad language, but it is very small, and never egregious. When someone says, "Sh**!" it is because that is exactly what it is. There is no sexual content in these books. There are mentions of crime, appropriate since the main character Maggie is an investigator and a crime victim herself. There are not terribly gory descriptions of suicide, murder, and dismemberment. This book is a super quick read; it only took me about an hour and a half to zip through it. It's about 200 pages, but the writing is tight and the plotting is steady and the characters and action just get right on with it. Get this book! You won't be disappointed..
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